Sunday, July 25, 2010

Is That A Drill In Your Pocket Or Are You Just Happy To Be Scanned?

What would we do without the TSA keeping our skies safe? Our planes free from fingernail clippers and hair conditioner. I know we need them but a couple flights made me question their consistency.

I occasionally travel for work. When I go to the field I have to carry on my laptop case and boot bag.

On one trip they scanned my laptop bag. Sir. Please step into the cube. Huh? I look and they are rescanning my laptop case and pointing. Is that your bag? Yes. There are five agents now looking at the x-ray of my bag and digging around. It is amazing how many pockets and nooks are in those things. Sir, do you have a drill bit in your bag? Uhhh, I am a machinist, it is possible. They scanned again and after digging around about 10 minutes they pulled out a 3/8 inch diameter x 12 inch long drill bit. I thought oh crap I forgot that was in there and I am in trouble now. They started laughing(yes they laughed), motioning me to come get may bag. As I was putting my laptop back in my bag they handed me the drill back. Odd thing is it had been in my bags for 2 other trips. Good thing it weren’t a fingernail file.

I also carried my boot bag on one trip which included my safety harness lanyards. It has 2 huge hooks on each end for tying off while I am climbing. They just looked at them and cleared them.



I do appreciate the free pass but what’s the criteria? Maybe it’s just my southern charm. Of course the folks behind me weren’t so thrilled.

Ever had a personal search in TSA?

6 comments:

My Aimless Infatuation said...

I would have been thrilled to be behind you or anyone else that has not forgotten what Southern charm and hospitality is. It is gone in the younger generation and it makes me sad to see that they seem to be ashamed of the southern english that I so proudly speak. Sorry that I got off the subject but your last line got me thinking(which some say is not a good thing,lol). Have a great Sunday.

Bunnym said...

Isn't that the problem...all the inconsistencies? You should have told them you were on your way to the Gulf with your little drill, ready to save the ocean...lol

bunny

Pearl said...

Ugh. I cannot believe how ridiculous it all is. I had the world's tiniest scissors -- useful for only the weakest of threads -- and they took them. I understood them taking my mace -- forgot it was on the key chain -- but my teeny tiny scissors?

And why am I taking off my sandals again? Because some doofus tried to mix up a bomb on the plane with something in his shoe?

I stood behind a man in a wheelchair in his late and rather unhealthy 80s while they tried to get him through the scanner without beeping. Ten minutes it took while they determined that he was not a threat. I think we've gone a bit soft in the head sometimes...

Pearl

Donna Tagliaferri said...

personally I am tired of the government and all their rules...I am tired of being poked and prodded, I am tired of not being able to get on a plane without practically being raped. Who is the father? The TSA agent....

MrsBlogAlot said...

I don't know about you...but I could do some real damage with a drill bit..

Ellen@FirednFabulous said...

Wow, the next time I stop for TWEEZERS, I'll remember this!